Facial wrinkles and creases begin to appear as the underlying collagen and elastin fibers begin to break down and wear out. While this breakdown is part of the natural aging process, it can also result from excessive squinting, frowning, smoking and smiling.
Facial injectable fillers are one of the most commonly performed cosmetic enhancement procedures today. As a result there are multiple products currently on the market and the list continues to grow.
These types of products are generally considered short-term fillers or long-term fillers. Common short-term fillers include collagen- and hylaform-based products. The short-term fillers typically last from 6-12 months. Long-term synthetic-based fillers include Artecol®, Dermalive® and Dermadeep®. These products are believed to last 10-15 years – although they likely last longer. Radiesse® is a newer calcium composition product gaining popularity and lasts about two years.
Collagen is an excellent short-term filler. The procedure is relatively quick and has limited downtime aside from some swelling and possible bruising. There is however, a risk of collagen allergy and therefore most patients have a skin test prior to treatment. Evolence® is a new type of collagen product which has such a low allergy rate that allergy testing is not necessary according to the manufacturer.
Another common short-term filler is hylaform. This product also requires no allergy testing and lasts approximately six months. Restylane® and Juviderm® are two hylaform-based products.
The product of choice is ultimately determined by the patient’s personal preference – based on what they feel gives them the best result. You may have to try both hylaform and collagen to really know which is best for you.
